In situ infrared studies of the catalytical synthesis of dimethyl oxalate from CO and CH3ONO over Al2O3-supported Pd-Cu alloy catalysts

The catalytical synthesis of dimethyl oxalate from CO and CH3ONO at normal pressure was investigated with in situ IR technique, We discovered that there was a subsidiary reaction during the formation of dimethyl oxalate, The by-product NO continued to react with CO to produce CO2 and N2O, Palladium was dispersed by copper in the alloy PdCu catalysts and consequently results in the increase of the linearly bound CO species and the decrease of the multiply coordinated CO species, The main reaction has no relation with the multiply coordinated CO species but the subsidiary reaction firmly depends on them, The linearly bound CO of 2 058 cm(-1) are more active in the production of dimethyl oxalate. The possible mechanism was also discussed.